Campfire starting device

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a fire-starting device for conducting an individual&#39;&#39;s breath to specific areas of flowing or smoldering embers to enhance the starting of a fire. The device consists of a cylindrical tube with a mouth piece at one end and a nozzle at the other end to direct the user&#39;&#39;s breath onto the embers. Disposed within the device is a valve which permits the user&#39;&#39;s breath to be directed through in the direction of the nozzle end but excludes the passage of air or other gases in the opposite direction.

llite Mates atent n91 Snoddy Nov. 26, 1974 1 CAMPFIRE STARTING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Sam Snoddy, 524 Isabella, El Paso,

Tex. 79922 [22] Filed: Feb. 9, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.2 331,192

239/571,?3, 152-154, 211, 289337525, 529, 530, DIG. l3, DIG. l7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 282,578 8/1883 Skinner 44/35 976,796 11/1910 Qull igan 1.218.284 3/1917 Lekberg 239/530 X 1,486.072 3/1924 Boyd et a1 239/530 1,813,285 7/1931 Galetschky 239/571 X 1,933,273 10/1933 Ludlow 239/525 X 2.192,732 3/1940 Johnson 44/35 X 3,052.064 9/1962 Kaeser 65/300 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 687.649 2/1940 Germany 44/35 499,929 1/1939 Great Britain 239/571 155,586 3/1954 Australia 34,075 8/1908 1,145,756 3/1963 Germany 65/300 Primary ExaminerRobert S. Ward, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT The invention is directed to a fire-starting device for conducting an individuals breath to specific areas of flowing or smoldering embers to enhance the starting of a fire. The device consists of a cylindrical tube with a mouth piece at one end and a nozzle at the other end to direct the users breath onto the embers. Disposed within the device is a valve which permits t he users breath to be directed through in the direction of the nozzle end but excludes the passage of air or other gases in the opposite direction.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTE; BUY 2 61974 FIG.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hunters, woodsmen and others who camp out have a continuing requirement to build fires out-of-doors for warmth and for cooking. The normal procedure in kindling such a fire calls for the use of locally available materials such as twigs, sticks, leaves, logs, etc., as fuel for their fires. These fuels are often damp or green if freshly broken from their parent plant and do not burn readily. Therefore, considerable fanning and/or blowing on embers is required to develop a full flame fire capable of providing sufficient heat for cooking or warmth. Fanning a fire is a sporadic means of developing a full flame fire and produces only general effectiveness. Blowing on an embers bed with ones mouth is very effective; however, since an individuals mouth must be in close proximity to the embers'bed, if the desired results are to be achieved, there is a risk to the in-. dividual performing the blowing on the embers bed whereby facial burns or eye damage may be incurred due to embers, smoke or ashes being accidentally blown back into the facial area. The current invention provides an inexpensive device that is highly effective in directing blown breath on specific areas of glowing embers to enhance the starting of. full flame fires. The present invention is so constructed that an individual using the device is not threatened with injury caused by a blow-back of glowing embers, smoke or ashes into his facial area or by the inhalation of super-heated air from the area of the embers bed he is attempting to kindle. These features are particularly important to the numerous outdoorsmen who have definite requirements as. well as personal desire to kindle fires effectively and safely.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to a new and unique firestarting device for the kindling offull flame fires from glowing embers and smoldering fires. An important object of this invention is to provide a safe and effective means for the kindling-of fires for those individuals who de sire to kindle ffi'es by blowing upon 'giawiiigfembers ans 9 sm afires A qth issw hq s n invention Tao provide a device adapted for optimum utilization of an individuals breath on specific areas of a glowing embers bed to enhance the kindling of a starting fire or to develop a smoldering fire into full flame. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a deviceto enhance the kindlingoffires which is easily portable, i.e., pocket size. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a device that will prevent the inhalation of super-heated air from the vicinity, of glowing embers beds or smoldering fires by an individual who is blowing on said beds of fires in an effort to develop them into full flame.

Theseand other-objects are accomplished according.

to the present invention which comprises a cylindrical tube of approximate arm s length which is fitted-on one end'with a mouthpiece and on the other end with a discharge piece ornozzle. Within the passages of this assembly there is contained a one-way valve which permits air or breath flow only in the direction from the mouthpiece to the nozzle.

Other objectsandmany of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed descriptions when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the mouthpiece and valve assembly.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mouthpiece and valve assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention adapted for reduced storage space, easy portability and pocket size. The device is comprised of a tube 1 with a nozzle assembly 2 on one end and on the other end a tubular duct 3 to which is attached a mouthpiece 4. The tube 1 is a thin-walled flexible tube of approximately an arms length and an inside diameter of approximately 5/16 inch. One end of the tube 1 is slipped over the shank end of the nozzle assembly 2 and frictionally secured thereto by the contractile force of the flexible tube 1 over the larger diameter of the nozzle assembly 2. The nozzle assembly is of a telescoping design with its extreme end member wedge-shaped and with a plurality of holes through which the air or breath is discharged.

The end of tube 1 remote to the discharge end is frictionally secured to tubular duct 3 over whose one end it is slipped. The other end of tubular duct 3 is pressfitted to mouthpiece 4. Both the tubular duct 3 and the mouthpiece 4 are made of high-density polyethylene or other suitable material. Reference now is made to FIG. 3; there is shown a partial sectional view of the mouthpiece 4 whose end in cooperation with an elastomeric disc Sand a disc constraining cage 6 comprise a simple one-way flow valve. In assembly, the cage 6, made of high density polyethylene or other suitable material, is press-fitted circumferentially onto mouthpiece 4. The internal end of the mouthpiece 4 is perforated with a plurality of axially aligned holes to form a screen. The valve assembly is enclosed by tubular duct 3.

A description of usage and operation of this invention is made with reference to FIG. 1-3. To use the firestarting-aid device, the telescopic nozzle assembly 2 is first extended to its full length, then the mouthpiece 4 is placed in the individuals mouth while the nozzle 2 is directed to the fire being started. The individual blows into mouthpiece 4 which communicates with nozzle 2 through duct 3, tube 1 and discharge piece 2. The action of blowing into mouthpiece 4 drives the elastomeric disc 5 away from the internal end of mouthpiece 4 and against cage 6. Air or breath flows through the side openings of cage 6 and through duct 3, tube 1 and discharge nozzle 2. The moderately fanned shape of the nozzle 2 spreads the effect of the discharging air or breath whereas the restrictive character of the plurality of discharge holes on the end of the nozzle 2 creates a build-up within the device to impart a jet effect and at the same time an evenness of distribution to the discharge. Any attempt to inhale through the mouthpiece 4 creates a pressure difference across the elastomeric disc 5 which is held in close proximity to the internal end of mouthpiece 4 by cage 6 thereby causing elastomeric disc 5 to be drawn tightly against the internal end of mouthpiece 4 and thus preventing withdrawal and inhalation of air from the de vice into the users mouth, throat and lungs.

Whereas a preferred embodiment has been described, a consideration of the invention will suggest many possible variations. For example, the tube 1 in FIG. 1 may be rigid and of different material and dimensions; the one-way valve built into mouthpiece 4 may be of different design and disposed anywhere within the flow passages of the device. The discharge nozzle 2 may be a simple tube and it may be of any fire resistant material. Accordingly, the invention is to be construed as including all of the embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described this invention, what I assert as new and pray issuance of letters of patent for, is:

l. A device for use as an aid when starting a campfire or the like by discharging air at a desired location, said device comprising a rigid mouthpiece having a tubular passageway therethrough, said mouthpiece adapted to be held in the mouth of a user with air being blown through the passageway when the user exhales or blows through the passageway, an elongated tube connected to said mouthpiece at one end thereof, said tube being flexible throughout its length and forming a continuation of said passageway, and an elongated rigid nozzle connected to the end of the tube remote from the mouthpiece, said nozzle being provided with a passageway forming a continuation of the passageway'in the mouthpiece and flexible tube for discharge of air therefrom directly onto a desired point of a campfire, said nozzle having a length sufficient to enable the end thereof connected to the tube to be grasped and handled in a manner to position the other end into the desired location in a campfire with the grasping hand spaced from the tire to reduce the possibility of burns, said nozzle being constructed of fire resistant material. said mouthpiece, tube and nozzle being oriented in compact relation for positioning in a garment pocket or the like and being light in weight to facilitate carrying thereof by backpacking campers or the like, said mouthpiece including a one-way valve assembly therein to prevent the user from inhaling through the nozzle and tube, said nozzle including a sectional telescopically adjustable tube member, the outermost tube member being laterally enlarged into fan-shaped configuration and having a plurality of apertures for discharge of air or breath. 

1. A device for use as an aid when starting a campfire or the like by discharging air at a desired location, said device comprising a rigid mouthpiece having a tubular passageway therethrough, said mouthpiece adapted to be held in the mouth of a user with air being blown through the passageway when the user exhales or blows through the passageway, an elongated tube connected to said mouthpiece at one end thereof, said tube being flexible throughout its length and forming a continuation of said passageway, and an elongated rigid nozzle connected to the end of the tube remote from the mouthpiece, said nozzle being provided with a passageway forming a continuation of the passageway in the mouthpiece and flexible tube for discharge of air therefrom directly onto a desired point of a campfire, said nozzle having a length sufficient to enable the end thereof connected to the tube to be grasped and handled in a manner to position the other end into the desired location in a campfire with the grasping hand spaced from the fire to reduce the possibility of burns, said nozzle being constructed of fire resistant material, said mouthpiece, tube and nozzle being oriented in compact relation for positioning in a garment pocket or the like and being light in weight to facilitate carrying thereof by backpacking campers or the like, said mouthpiece including a one-way valve assembly therein to prevent the user from inhaling through the nozzle and tube, said nozzle including a sectional telescopically adjustable tube member, the outermost tube member being laterally enlarged into fan-shaped configuration and having a plurality of apertures for discharge of air or breath. 